Pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus for representing a genetic make-up of a family and being capable of representing a family with multiple children and/or multiple generations is provided. In one embodiment, a pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus comprises a first horizontal jewelry pendant member representing a first generation of a family and having a first end and a second end to couple to a piece of jewelry which represents at least one member in the first generation of the family; a second horizontal jewelry pendant member representing a second generation of the family and having at least one end to couple to a piece of jewelry which represents at least one member in the second generation of the family; and a vertical jewelry pendant member connecting to both the first and second horizontal jewelry pendant members. The first end of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a male sex, and the second end of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a female sex.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/532,469, entitled “Pedigree Jewelry Pendant Apparatus and Method”, filed on Dec. 24, 2003, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated therein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a jewelry pendant apparatus and a method thereof, and more particularly, the present invention relates to pedigree jewelry pendant apparatuses and methods of configuring a jewelry pendant to represent a pedigree arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jewelry which “tells a story” has traditionally been very popular. As well, jewelry which denotes the pride of parenthood has developed a large market. Notable examples of this phenomenon include the “Mother's ring” containing the birthstones of each child and the “Mother and Child” pendant design. These designs have become a popular gift items at the birth of a child of for Mother's Day. The design presented serves both of these roles, denoting the pride of a parent while displaying the “story” of the family unit by representing each parent's and each child's gender and birthstone, and the birth order of the children. The format in which the birth order and other details (such as twin births) are represented is in the widely utilized “Pedigree Chart” notation. One way of depicting a family-tree commonly utilized by physicians and geneticists in order to clearly and quickly display important family connections is as follows:

Normal female

Normal male

Sex unknown

Single bar indicates mating

Normal parents and normal offspring, two girls and a boy, in birth order indicated by the numbers; I and II indicate generations

Single parent as presented means partner is normal or of no significance to the analysis

Double bar indicates a consanguineous mating (mating between clase relatives)

Fraternal twins (not identical)

Identical twins

Therefore, it is desirable to have a jewelry pendant to represent a genetic make-up of a family, and accordingly, there is a need for a pedigree jewelry pendant capable of representing a family with multiple children and/or multiple generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus which can be used to represent a genetic make-up of a family and is capable of representing a family with multiple children and/or multiple generations.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus comprises a first horizontal jewelry pendant member representing a first generation of a family and having a first end and a second end to couple to a piece of jewelry which represents at least one member in the first generation of the family; a second horizontal jewelry pendant member representing a second generation of the family and having at least one end to couple to a piece of jewelry which represents at least one member in the second generation of the family; and a vertical jewelry pendant member connecting to both the first and second horizontal jewelry pendant members, whereby a cross is formed between the first horizontal jewelry pendant member and the vertical jewelry pendant member.

Still in one embodiment of the present invention, the first end of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a shape denoting the male sex, and the second end of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a shape denoting the female sex.

Additionally in one embodiment of the present invention, the vertical jewelry pendant member includes a first end connected to a necklace, and a second end connected to the second horizontal jewelry pendant member.

Further in one embodiment of the present invention, the one end of the second horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a child of the male sex and the female sex, thereby representing the second generation of the family.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the second horizontal jewelry pendant member includes a horizontal bar having at least two ends connected to birthstones of at least two children of either sex.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, a second vertical jewelry pendant member is connected to one end of the horizontal bar. The second vertical jewelry pendant member is connectable to a third horizontal jewelry pendant member, thereby representing a third generation of the family.

Accordingly, one of the advantages of the present invention is that a jewelry pendant can be used to represent a family with multiple children and/or multiple generations.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the jewelry pendant can be used to represent a genetic make-up of a family, while also recognizing the paternal side of the family, or to denote many other features, such as twins, triplets, etc. of a family. It is appreciated that the above and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. As it will be realized, the present invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Yet in one embodiment of the present invention, a line of jewelry comprises of bezel or prong set birthstones of each parent and child. The shapes of the stones can be square, round or any other suitable shape to denote the gender of a person represented and arranged using the symbols and in the configuration utilized in a pedigree chart.

It is appreciated that a pedigree jewelry apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention can be adapted to many configurations, including pendants, brooches, earrings, bracelets, finger rings, and charms, etc. Also, it is appreciated that the pedigree jewelry apparatus of the present invention can be cast or fabricated from many suitable jewelry stone materials, such as precious metal, base metal, wood, ivory, bone, clay, glass, or plastic, etc. Further, the setting for the jewelry stone can be created to accept cabochon or faceted calibrated stones, or custom-made for irregularly sized stones.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention, including best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of a pedigree jewelry pendant with a configuration of birthstones representing a one-child family, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of a pedigree jewelry pendant with a configuration of birthstones representing three-child family, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of a pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a configuration of birthstones representing parents, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a pedigree jewelry pendant as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a configuration of birthstones representing parents, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of a 3-child add-on bar of a pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a 3-child add-on bar of a pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of the pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIG. 2 with a configuration of a birthstone representing male, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIG. 2 with a configuration of a birthstone representing male, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of a 2-child add-on bar of a pedigree jewelry pendant, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a 2-child add-on bar of a pedigree jewelry pendant, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7A illustrates a front view of one exemplary embodiment of the pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIG. 2 with a configuration of a birthstone representing female, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7B illustrates a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the pedigree jewelry pendant shown in FIG. 2 with a configuration of a birthstone representing female, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus 100 representing a genetic make-up of a family of two parents in a first generation and one child in a second generation, whereas FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus 200 representing a genetic make-up of a family of two parents in a first generation and three children in a second generation.

The descriptions of an exemplary pedigree chart of symbols and configurations used in FIGS. 1 and 2 are as follows:

In FIG. 1, the pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus 100 comprises a first horizontal jewelry pendant member 102 representing a first generation 104 of a family. The first horizontal jewelry pendant member 102 includes a first end 106 and a second end 108 to each couple to a piece of jewelry 110, 112 which represents at least one member in the first generation 104 of the family. The apparatus 100 further comprises a second horizontal jewelry pendant member 114 representing a second generation 116 of the family. The second horizontal jewelry pendant member 112 includes at least one end to couple to a piece of jewelry 120 which represents at least one member in the second generation 112 of the family. The apparatus 100 also comprises a vertical jewelry pendant member 122 connecting to both the first and second horizontal jewelry pendant members 102, 114, whereby a cross is formed between the first horizontal jewelry pendant member 102 and the vertical jewelry pendant member 122.

Still in FIG. 1, the first end 106 of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member 102 is connected to a birthstone, e.g. the jewelry 110, of a male sex, and the second end 108 of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member 102 is connected to a birthstone, e.g. the jewelry 112, of a female sex.

In FIG. 1, the vertical jewelry pendant member 122 includes a first end 124 connected to a necklace 126, and a second end 128 connected to the second horizontal jewelry pendant member 114. The one end 118 of the second horizontal jewelry pendant member 114 is connected to a birthstone, e.g. the jewelry 120, of a child of either sex (this example depicts a female child), thereby representing the second generation 116 of the family.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus 200, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the second horizontal jewelry pendant member 114 includes a horizontal bar 130 having at least two ends 132, 134 connected to birthstones, e.g. jewelry 136, 138 of at least two children of the male sex and the female sex. In FIG. 2, the parents have three children, two girls represented by two round birthstones 136, 138, and one boy represented by a square birthstone 140.

It is appreciated that the pendant apparatus may include more generations of a family, i.e. vertically including more horizontal jewelry pendant members. For example, the apparatus 200 may include a second vertical jewelry pendant member (not shown) connected to one end, e.g. 132, 134, etc., of the horizontal bar 130. The second vertical jewelry pendant member is connectable to a third horizontal jewelry pendant member (not shown), thereby representing a third generation of the family.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate front and perspective views of the first generation 104 of the pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus 100, 200 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a configuration of birthstones 110, 112 representing parents, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate front and perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of the horizontal bar 130 for a 3-child pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate front and perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of a configuration of the square birthstone, e.g. jewelry 110, 140, representing male sex.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate front and perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of a horizontal bar for a 2-child pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus, similar to the horizontal bar 130 for the 3-child pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus 200 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate front and perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of a configuration of the round birthstone, e.g. jewelry 112, 136, 138, representing female sex. 

1. A pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus for representing a genetic make-up of a family being capable of representing the family with multiple children and/or generations.
 2. A pedigree jewelry pendant apparatus, comprising: a first horizontal jewelry pendant member representing a first generation of a family and having a first end and a second end to couple to a piece of jewelry which represents at least one member in the first generation of the family; a second horizontal jewelry pendant member representing a second generation of the family and having at least one end to couple to a piece of jewelry which represents at least one member in the second generation of the family; and a vertical jewelry pendant member connecting to both the first and second horizontal jewelry pendant members, whereby a cross is formed between the first horizontal jewelry pendant member and the vertical jewelry pendant member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first end of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a male sex, and the second end of the first horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a female sex.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vertical jewelry pendant member includes a first end connected to a necklace, earring, brooch, or other jewelry item, and a second end connected to the second horizontal jewelry pendant member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one end of the second horizontal jewelry pendant member is connected to a birthstone of a child of the male sex and the female sex, thereby representing the second generation of the family.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second horizontal jewelry pendant member includes a horizontal bar having at least two ends connected to birthstones of at least two children of the male sex and the female sex.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a second vertical jewelry pendant member is connected to one end of the horizontal bar, and the second vertical jewelry pendant member is connectable to a third horizontal jewelry pendant member, thereby representing a third generation of the family. 